LOCAL authorities in the North West may lose their social services departments as part of an efficiency drive affecting thousands of staff.

Care trusts could be set up to bring NHS services and social care under one roof.

There would also be a regional director to oversee the running of the two services.

It forms part of one of the biggest shake-ups facing services under the NHS Plan, the Government's blueprint for health.

But it needs the agreement of councils and health authorities across Cheshire and Merseyside for the plan to go ahead. It is thought no jobs would be lost and existing social services staff would transfer to the new organisation.

But a union source fears it would lead to clashes between social workers and nurses over their new roles, and that staff would leave their jobs.

Project director for Merseyside and Cheshire, Rob Wall, said: "It's not about saving money, it's about providing a better quality of care.

"The new care trust would mean less duplication of services and less gaps in care because it would be like a one-stop shop for health and social services. It really should be seen as something positive and not just change for change's sake.

"But it all depends on getting everyone to agree to it, it won't be forced upon people. Councils would decide how much of their social services would move over, either part or all.

"There is no timescale for this changeover, it will be more evolutionary than revolutionary. If councils don't agree to it then it won't happen but I think it's well worth looking at."

Councils would still receive funding for social services but would pass it on to the newly-formed care trusts.

Talks to look into setting up care trusts will not take place until next April when the first of the new strategic health authorities have been created. It has not yet been decided how large the trusts will be and how many would be set up.

Unison's regional care manager, Bill McMillan, said: "Unison's priorities on this agenda have been clear. We must protect the job security of staff and ensure their skills are retained in the public sector.

"If the NHS plan is to succeed, the change must involve partnership of all involved and not rely on central diktat."

The Local Government Association, which represents councils in England, said: "We fully support the integration of social services with health care. There are different ways to do this and care trusts are just one of them.

"It's down to local discussion - and that includes staff - to work out which is appropriate for them."

Earlier this year, Health Secretary Alan Milburn announced that health authorities across England and Wales would be cut from 99 to 35 within three years, saving £250,000 for each one scrapped.

Cheshire director of social services, Jo Williams, said: "The real issue for us is that, if people need health and social services, then they shouldn't have to go knocking on several different doors. A care trust is one way of doing this but there are other ways.

"People who need care are not too bothered who provides it as long as they receive it.

"We shouldn't get dragged into restructuring when the real focus should be providing care. There's no need for people to be threatened by this."

Executive director for social services at Liverpool city council, Annie Shepperd, said social services staff were already working closely with the NHS in mental health.

But she added: "There are no other plans to combine facilities in Liverpool."